Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP was 0.6301 in 2030. ◆ Volatile
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in South Africa, 2001–2030
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Africa is 0.6301, measured in 2030.
That represents a change of up 18.9% on the previous year and up 111.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Africa peaked at 3.41 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -5.54, in 2020.
That places South Africa 63rd out of 188 countries with data for 2030, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.02 | — |
| 2002 | 2.53 | -16.4% |
| 2003 | 1.52 | -40.0% |
| 2004 | 1.89 | +24.3% |
| 2005 | 2.58 | +36.5% |
| 2006 | 3.26 | +26.5% |
| 2007 | 3.41 | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 1.55 | -54.6% |
| 2009 | -2.62 | -269.1% |
| 2010 | -2.28 | -12.9% |
| 2011 | -1.4 | -38.6% |
| 2012 | -1.6 | +13.8% |
| 2013 | -1.25 | -21.8% |
| 2014 | -1.16 | -7.2% |
| 2015 | -1.44 | +24.3% |
| 2016 | -0.6174 | -57.1% |
| 2017 | -0.7625 | +23.5% |
| 2018 | -0.3526 | -53.8% |
| 2019 | -1.51 | +327.1% |
| 2020 | -5.54 | +267.7% |
| 2021 | -1.33 | -76.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2511 | -118.9% |
| 2023 | -0.6312 | -351.3% |
| 2024 | -0.6112 | -3.2% |
| 2025 | -0.7094 | +16.1% |
| 2026 | -0.351 | -50.5% |
| 2027 | 0.0324 | -109.2% |
| 2028 | 0.3201 | +887.6% |
| 2029 | 0.5298 | +65.5% |
| 2030 | 0.6301 | +18.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.6301 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0281, 22.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.6301 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.1097. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028 | +887.6% | 0.0324 | 0.3201 |
| 2023 | -351.3% | 0.2511 | -0.6312 |
| 2019 | -327.1% | -0.3526 | -1.51 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.9 | -2.62 | 3.41 | 9 |
| 2010s | -1.24 | -2.28 | -0.3526 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.8034 | -5.54 | 0.5298 | 10 |
| 2030s | 0.6301 | 0.6301 | 0.6301 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More external debt data for South Africa
- Net financial flows, IBRD 1.36 billion NFL, current US$ (2025)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita -0.2407 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP -0 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 444.22 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Use of IMF credit 6.45 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, long-term 139.25 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, short-term 60.64 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- Short-term debt 29.4% (2025)
- Net financial flows, IBRD (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate -109.7 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Africa?
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Africa was 0.6301 in 2030, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.41 in 2007.
- What is the lowest primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.54 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 188 countries with data for 2030.
- Is primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 111.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fiscal Monitor (FM) 2025 October